Children's Centres

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many Sure Start children's centres there will be in 2010;
	(2)  how many Sure Start children's centres have been closed in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since their inception;
	(3)  how much capital funding for Sure Start children's centres in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England his Department has provided in each year since the Sure Start programme commenced;
	(4)  how many outreach workers his Department has employed in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each of the last five years;
	(5)  how many Sure Start children's centres have been established in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since the Sure Start programme commenced.

Beverley Hughes: There are currently 2,906 designated Sure Start Children's Centres in England. By 2010 there will be 3,500 children's centres, one for every community. No centres have been closed since their inception. Prior to 2004 there were 524 Sure Start Local Programmes, the vast majority of which have now made the transition into children's centres.
	The further information requested is given in the tables below. Local authorities are responsible for the establishment and operation of children's centres. The Department does not collect information on the number of outreach workers employed by children's centres.
	
		
			  Sure Start Local Programmes 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003 
			  (a) Jarrow 0 0 1 2 2 
			  (b) South Tyneside 0 1 2 4 5 
			  (c) North East 4 20 30 53 62 
			  (d) England 22 124 240 401 524 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are cumulative. 2. Figures are available for England only. 3. Most SSLPs have now been designated as children's centres. 
		
	
	
		
			  Designated Children's Centres 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  31 March 2008 
			  (a) Jarrow 0 1 3 4 5 6 
			  (b) South Tyneside 0 3 6 9 10 12 
			  (c) North East 6 31 51 114 147 182 
			  (d) England 59 189 443 1,049 1,888 2,906 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are cumulative. 2. Figures are available for England only. 3. Former SSLPs that have become children's centres are included in these figures. 
		
	
	
		
			  All Sure Start Local Programme and Children's Centre Capital Expenditure Estimates 
			  £ million 
			   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  (b) South Tyneside 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.963 0.769 1.075 3.630 0.606 
			  (c) North East 0.000 0.058 3.272 11.098 12.233 12.708 35.789 16.152 
			  (d) England 3.588 1.278 7.816 70.686 83.934 145.923 314.171 219.371 
			  Notes: 1. Data is not available by constituency so we are unable to provide figures for (a) Jarrow. 2. Data is available for England only. 3. The South Tyneside data is actual expenditure but that for the North East and England contains estimates because we do not yet have final data for the entire population. 4. For 2006-07, the expenditure data includes integrated projects (i.e. those which target more than one policy area).

Children's Centres: Manpower

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many children's centre outreach workers he proposes to provide by 2010;
	(2)  how many outreach workers he proposes to provide in each children's centre in the super output areas ranked in the  (a) first to third,  (b) fourth to seventh and  (c) eighth to tenth deciles of deprivation by 2010.

Beverley Hughes: We expect all Sure Start Children's Centres to provide outreach services, although the level and intensity of such provision will vary according to the needs of the local community. Outreach is part of the role of a wide range of practitioners. While many practitioners engaged in outreach to families with young children will be employed in a children's centre or by a local authority, we encourage local authorities to build on other existing local capacity, such as health visitors, relevant third sector workers, and trained volunteers. Our priority is to support children's centres in the most disadvantaged areas to build their outreach capacity to meet local needs. In this context, children's centre revenue funding provides local authorities with resources for two additional outreach practitioners per children's centre in the most deprived (super output) areas.
	We will be reviewing the delivery of outreach in a range of settings with a view to establishing core principles and standards for effective and comprehensive outreach services. We will support this with appropriate training materials and courses and provide additional funding for practitioners in children's centres to take up new training opportunities.

Class Sizes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to improve pupil to teacher ratios since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Government have been able to improve the PTR by increasing the supply of teachers, and there are now 441,200 teachers in our schools; almost 41,000 more than in 1997. In this period the overall PTR has fallen from 18.6 to 16.9.
	The PTR is also influenced by the rise and fall in pupil numbers over time and the Government regularly models the number of teacher training places required in future years by taking account of this and a range of other factors.

Financial Services: Education

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to introduce personal finance education as part of the future schools curriculum at  (a) primary and  (b) secondary level; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: It is crucial that all young people leave school with the skills and confidence to manage their money well. Personal finance education is already part of Personal, Social and Health Education at Key Stages 1 to 4. However, the revised curriculum for secondary schools, includes a new dedicated programme of study for 'Economic Well Being and Financial Capability' as part of a revised Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. The new curriculum will begin teaching from September 2008 and will add a new focus on financial education in secondary schools. Sir Jim Rose is currently carrying out an independent review of the primary curriculum. He is due to report to Ministers in March 2009.
	Additionally, Citizenship education, which is statutory at Key Stage 3 and 4, requires that 14 to 16-year-olds be taught how the economy functions, including the role of business and financial services. We are also introducing functional mathematics to the maths GCSE, which means that from 2010, all pupils who achieve a grade C or above will have mastered the basics.
	To support schools in meeting these curriculum requirements we are investing £11.5 million over the next three years to support good financial education in schools. This investment will support revised curriculum guidance for financial capability, innovative curriculum resources with the Child Trust Fund as a focus, and more high quality training and support for teachers.

Food: Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people are training to teach food technology.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the total number of trainees on food technology initial teacher training (ITT) courses for the academic year 2007-08.
	
		
			  Number of trainees on food technology ITT courses 
			   2007-08 
			 Mainstream 230 
			 Employment based ITT 50 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are individually rounded to the nearest 10 2. Figures for mainstream trainees include universities and other HE institutions, SCITT and OU, but exclude employment based ITT (EBITT) schemes. 3. Figures include trainees who are resitting all or part of their ITT programme. 4. Figures are for the total number of trainees on ITT courses therefore include all trainees at all stages on courses of one to five year durations. 5. EBITT figures include trainees through the graduate teacher programme (GTP), the registered teacher programme (RTP), the overseas trained teacher programme (OTTP). There are currently no trainees on a food technology Teach First (TF) programme. Figures are taken from the employment based ITT data management system as at 30 April 2008 and are subject to change, 6. Trainees who withdrew before their programme start date are removed from the above data.  Source: ITT Trainee Number Census and TDA Employment Based ITT Database 
		
	
	Approximately 800 secondary school food technology teacher training places will be made available over the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Languages: GCE A-Level

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils obtained an A-level in  (a) German,  (b) French and  (c) Spanish in each year since 2000.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of pupils obtaining a GCE A level  Percentage of pupils entered into exam obtaining a GCE A level 
			  French   
			 1999-2000 14,060 92.3 
			 2000-01 14,148 91.9 
			 2001-02 13,214 97.2 
			 2002-03 12,637 97.9 
			 2003-04 12,298 98.5 
			 2004-05 11,802 98.7 
			 2005-06 12,063 99.0 
			 2006-07 12,028 99.0 
			
			  German   
			 1999-2000 7,092 93.5 
			 2000-01 7,096 93.3 
			 2001-02 6,188 97.2 
			 2002-03 5,916 97.5 
			 2003-04 5,523 97.9 
			 2004-05 5,141 98.1 
			 2005-06 5,456 98.6 
			 2006-07 5,557 99.0 
			
			  Spanish   
			 1999-2000 4,207 93.2 
			 2000-01 4,174 92.7 
			 2001-02 4,314 97.4 
			 2002-03 4,434 98.4 
			 2003-04 4,576 98.4 
			 2004-05 4,883 99.0 
			 2005-06 5,148 99.0 
			 2006-07 5,431 98.9 
			  Note: Figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August) in all schools and colleges.

Literacy: Teaching Methods

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which reading programmes are approved by his Department for the teaching of synthetic phonics.

Jim Knight: High quality, systematic phonics, as advocated by the Rose review, should be the prime approach for teaching children to read.
	The Department does not approve commercial phonics teaching programmes. To help schools and early years settings in choosing the appropriate phonics support we have provided a set of core criteria that define the key features of an effective phonics teaching programme. The core criteria build directly on Jim Rose's recommendations.
	Schools and settings are able to access self-assessments of commercial phonics resources on the Department's phonics website at
	www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/phonics/.
	However, the existence of publishers' self assessments on this site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of the products they represent.

Nurseries: Standards

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) maintained and (b) independent nurseries in each local authority were placed in special measures in each year since 2001.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HMCI Christine Gilbert has written to the hon. Member and a cop of her reply has been placed in House Library.

Nurseries: Vacancies

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of trends in the level of staff vacancies in  (a) maintained and  (b) private voluntary and independent nurseries since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The 2006 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey estimated that there were a total of 10,400 vacancies in childcare providers (full day care, sessional care and out of school clubs).
	The percentage of settings recruiting for none, one, two and three or more vacancies, by type of ownership is shown in Table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Percentage of providers trying to recruit staff, by type of provision and ownership, 2006 
			   Private  Voluntary 
			  Number of vacancies  None  1  2  3+  None  1  2  3+ 
			  Full day care 
			 Senior Manager 86 13 <0.5 0 88 12 0 0 
			 Supervisory staff 42 44 10 3 49 46 5 0 
			 Other paid childcare staff 51 34 11 4 43 42 13 1 
			  Sessional 
			 Senior Manager (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 86 14 0 0 
			 Supervisory staff (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 55 41 5 0 
			 Other paid childcare staff (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 41 40 19 0 
			  Out of school clubs 
			 Senior Manager 82 16 0 0 84 14 1 0 
			 Supervisory staff 49 24 18 4 51 41 4 4 
			 Other paid childcare staff 43 34 14 3 43 28 18 10 
			 (1) Data not included due to a very low base size.   Notes:  1. Figures on numbers of vacancies being recruited for in providers under local authority, school/college or other types of ownership are not shown due to very low base sizes.  2. Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent due to rounding and 'don't know' responses. 
		
	
	Data on numbers of vacancies being recruited for in providers under local authority, school/college or other types of ownership are not available due to very low base sizes.
	Figures for previous years are not available.

Pupils: English Language

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what additional support is provided for schools with large numbers of children who have English as a second language; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what additional funding is made available to  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools in respect of each pupil who has English as a second language; what the duration of the additional funding is; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government provide funding for children including those with English as an additional language through the Dedicated Schools Grant. This grant is supplemented by substantial provision through the ring-fenced Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) distributed to local authorities. For 2008-09 EMAG is worth £187.6 million, rising to £206 million in 2011.
	In addition, an Exceptional Circumstances Grant has been introduced to reflect changes in local authorities' pupil numbers which occur after the three year indicative allocations of the Dedicated Schools Grant have been announced. It has three elements covering: an increase of more than 2.5 per cent. in overall pupil numbers; an increase of more than 2.5 per cent. in the proportion of pupils with English as an additional language; and a one-off payment to authorities with proportions of pupils with English as an additional language below 10 per cent. which go up by more than 2.5 per cent.

Pupils: English Language

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department provides to  (a) local authorities and  (b) schools on the entering for key stage tests of pupils with English as a second language who arrive in England and are enrolled in school shortly before the test date; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department's advice is set out in the "New Arrivals Excellence Programme Guidance" published September 2007, of which a copy has been placed in the Library. It draws attention to the importance of initial assessment for new arrivals, and advises on appropriate methods. Guidance on entering children for key stage tests is provided by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority through its Assessment and Reporting Arrangements publications, which can be accessed from the website
	www.qca.org.uk/eara
	This guidance covers all children, whether or not they have recently arrived in the UK or have English as an additional language. In essence the advice is to enter children wherever they are working at the level of the tests. However schools may apply for a recently-arrived child's results not to be recorded in published Attainment and Achievement Tables.

Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of surplus school places there were in those local authorities ranked in the  (a) top 10 and  (b) bottom 10 in terms of the share of pupils achieving five A* to C GCSEs, including English and mathematics in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department collects information from each local authority on the number of surplus school places through an annual survey. The most recent data available relates to the position at January 2007.
	The following table shows the number of surplus places in maintained secondary schools in local authorities that ranked nationally in the top 10 and lowest 10 in terms of the share of pupils achieving five A*-C GCSEs, including English and mathematics.
	
		
			   Percentage of pupils achieving five A*-C GCSE grades or equivalent, including English and Maths( 1)  Surplus as a percentage of total secondary school places 
			  LAs—top10   
			 Sutton 65.00 4 
			 Isles of Scilly 64.70 (2)0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 61.70 5 
			 Redbridge 61.50 3 
			 Trafford 60.80 9 
			 Buckinghamshire 60.50 4 
			 Barnet 59.70 10 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 58.00 16 
			 Rutland 58.00 11 
			 Wokingham 57.60 7 
			
			  LAs—lowest 10   
			 Greenwich 34.00 12 
			 Portsmouth 33.10 9 
			 Nottingham City 33.10 17 
			 Manchester 32.30 9 
			 Middlesbrough 31.90 11 
			 Barnsley 31.50 4 
			 Bristol, City of 31.50 17 
			 Sandwell 30.20 8 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull, City of 30.00 8 
			 Knowsley 26.50 18 
			 (1) Figures relate to pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in all schools published in the Schools Achievement and Attainment tables. (2) The Five Islands Schools on the Isles of Scilly has 2 per cent. surplus places. This is included in our published primary school figures as the school is an all-through school which is middle-deemed primary.

Supply Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 240W, on supply teachers, what the reasons for the difference in spending on supply teachers between 2005-06 and 2006-07 were; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Having reviewed the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 240W, and the data given, it appears that a clerical error was made in the response provided.
	The correct value of spend on supply teachers in maintained schools in each year from 1997-98 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Supply teaching staff  Agency supply teaching staff  Total 
			 2002-03 484,510,938 356,530,225 841,041,163 
			 2003-04 462,741,309 372,491,669 835,232,978 
			 2004-05 438,806,050 384,905,468 823,711,518 
			 2005-06 454,848,557 434,073,749 888,922,306 
			 2006-07 433,869,906 439,622,332 873,492,238 
		
	
	Prior to 2002-03 expenditure on supply teachers was not separately identifiable and so these data are not available. Data for the period 2007-08 are not yet available.

Teaching Methods

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library  (a) the latest data obtained by Ofsted on the extent of setting in schools, broken down by subject, age and pupil and  (b) a copy of his Department's guidance on setting.

Jim Knight: HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member with regard to Ofsted's latest data on setting. A copy of her reply has been placed in the Library. I have placed in the Library a copy of the Department's guidance on pupil grouping, 'Grouping Pupils for Success', and the two pieces of independent research, commissioned by the Department, on which this guidance is based: 'Pupil Grouping Strategies and Practices at Key Stage 2 and 3' (published September 2006) and 'Effective Teaching and Learning for Pupils in Low Attaining Groups' (published September 2007).
	'Grouping Pupils for Success' can be accessed at:
	http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/literacy/group_pup_succ/
	'Pupil Grouping Strategies and Practices at Key Stage 2 and 3' can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projectid=14415&resultspage=1
	'Effective Teaching and Learning for Pupils in Low Attaining Groups' can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projectid=14659&resultspage=1
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 30 April 2008:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response to part (a). The Department for Children, Schools and Families will respond separately to part (b).
	Our current data do not enable us to count or estimate how many lessons in England are set by ability. The attached tables show the data Ofsted has on the proportion of lessons observed during inspections carried out in the academic year 2006/07, by subject, phase of education and year. Inspectors record whether classes are setted, streamed or banded, as one category, or are mixed ability in composition. A third category is used for lessons in which other forms of grouping are used. When a lesson observed is setted, streamed or banded by ability, a note is made of the ability level of the class concerned.
	The data are based on the use of setting, streaming or banding in lessons observed during inspection. Some explanation of these figures may be helpful. Since September 2005, the recording of class organisation has been based either on discussions with the head teacher or teacher by reference to the lesson plan at the time of observation. A much smaller number of lessons is observed than would have been seen under the previous inspection framework. Lessons seen may therefore not represent pupil grouping in the school as a whole.
	For clarity, setting is the term used to describe the organisation of pupils in classes on the basis of their prior attainment in the particular subject being taught. The term banding, which is very similar to streaming, is used when the decision as to which pupils are included in a class is based on the prior attainment in a range of subjects. Ofsted does not differentiate between setting, streaming and banding in the data collected during lesson observations.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Working Tax Credit

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of people claimed the child care element of the working tax credit in  (a) Basingstoke constituency,  (b) Hampshire and  (c) England in each year since records were available.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 916W.

Eco-Towns

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what regard her Department's  (a) policies and  (b) public service infrastructure requirements for eco-towns sites differ from the requirements for development at sites which are not designated as eco-towns.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 29 April 2008
	 As set out in the consultation document "Eco-towns—Living a greener future" we have set challenging criteria, which build on policies and infrastructure requirements for development at sites which are not eco-towns. For example, in terms of sustainable transport we have said that the location of major facilities and services, such as shops and community facilities should be located within a 10 minute walk of homes within eco-towns. Copies of the consultation document are available in the Library of the House.

Eco-Towns: Council Tax

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will commission research into the likely effect of eco-towns on levels of council tax over the next 25 years for (i) residents of the local authority areas in which each of the proposed 15 eco-towns is situated and (ii) residents of all adjacent local authority areas.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 1 May 2008
	 We are still consulting on the locations and schemes on the shortlist I published on 3 April 2008.

Eco-Towns: Shops

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy only to allow town centre shops to be permitted in eco-towns to reduce levels of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from transportation.

Caroline Flint: A well designed eco-town will make it easy to travel more sustainably between homes, services and jobs within the settlement. This would include shops and services located within a 10 minute walk of homes within eco-towns and streets designed to accommodate the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. In addition we will also need to provide for sustainable travel to nearby settlements.

Eco-Towns: West Sussex

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions  (a) she and  (b) her Department has had with Wates Development Limited on the proposed eco-town at Ford since 1 January 2005.

Caroline Flint: holding answer7 May 2008
	 Neither the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government or Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Wates Development Ltd. on the proposed eco-town at Ford since 1 January 2005. On 3 September 2007 officials met with members of Wates Developments involved with the proposal for an eco-town at Ford. At the meeting they outlined their expression of interest for an eco-town, and officials confirmed the process and criteria for eco-towns as set out in the "Eco-towns Prospectus", published on 23 July 2007.

Housing: Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the proportion of projected household growth attributable to net migration in (i) London, (ii) the South East and (iii) the East of England.

Caroline Flint: None. Such information is available at the England level only from Communities and Local Government's Household Projections.

Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Government plans to respond to the Sixth Report of the Communities and Local Government Committee, HC 195, on Refuse Collection: Waste Reduction Pilots, published on 21 February 2008.

John Healey: The Government submitted their response to the Communities and Local Government Committee on 21 April.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average tour interval for the  (a) Army,  (b) Royal Air Force,  (c) Royal Navy and  (d) Royal Marines was at the end of the 2007-08 financial year.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested as average tour intervals across the single services, as a whole, are not currently calculated.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's manning evidence provided to the Senior Salaries Review Board for each financial year from 1997-98.

Derek Twigg: All available information on the manning evidence provided to the Senior Salaries Review Body from 1997-98 has now been collated and has been placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Personnel Management

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effects on his Department's expenditure of the introduction of Joint Personnel Administration in each year since 2005.

Derek Twigg: The implementation costs for Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) by financial year were:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2005-06 14.9 
			 2006-07 37.4 
			 2007-08 22.7 
		
	
	These costs include technical development and delivery costs, but exclude single service costs incurred in adjusting to the new system which were absorbed as part of business operating costs.
	The benefits accrued by financial year were:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2005-06 16.2 
			 2006-07 38.4 
			 2007-08 63.4 
		
	
	These figures include reduced costs within the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and headcount reductions in each of the Services.
	Consequently, the impact of JPA on departmental expenditure was broadly cost neutral in 2005-06 and 2006-07 with a saving of some £40 million in 2007-08.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department plans to monitor the impact of the Armed Forces Benefits Calculator on recruitment.

Bob Ainsworth: The Armed Forces' Benefits Calculator (ABC) is a new initiative which builds on the success of the pension calculator to provide service personnel with the means of working out an indicative value for their total remuneration package, incorporating basic pay, specialist pay, individual allowances, pension, and other benefits. As such, it is retention focused: the calculator has been developed to better communicate to service personnel the value of their 'total reward' package and other associated financial remuneration information.
	The MOD also regards strongly the ABC's value to recruiting, because it provides those thinking about joining the armed forces with a means of investigating the type of remuneration and benefits available. In future, the single services will be able to understand its impact, and the role it plays in determining why an individual wishes to enlist, from initial interviews. The calculator uses a combination of existing pay rates and allowances (details of which can be found at http://www.mod-abc.co.uk), and some new values, which have been agreed with subject matter experts and the single services. These new values are included to provide a broad indication of what some of the other benefits personnel receive in return for military service (such as dental care, and health and fitness facilities) might cost to replicate in civilian life.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what timescale his Department has for the phasing out of personnel carriers with  (a) inadequate armour and  (b) those not designed to withstand improvised explosive device detonations;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the operational viability of BAE RG31 vehicles, or similar vehicles, built to withstand improvised explosive device detonations;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the viability of replacing Land Rover and Vector vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan with armoured vehicles built to withstand improvised explosive device detonations.

Bob Ainsworth: Commanders need a range of vehicles of varying protection, mobility and profile, to achieve their missions and tasks and counter the threat.
	In 2006 the BAE RG-31 was considered in detail, along with the ADI Bushmaster and FPI Cougar 6x6, to fulfil the need for a large protected patrol vehicle that could meet our demanding protection requirements in the fastest possible time. The Cougar was selected and is now known as Mastiff; it has undergone rigorous assessment throughout the procurement process and continues to be assessed, in order to counter emerging threats.
	Additional deliveries of Mastiff and a new medium protected patrol vehicle to be called Ridgback, may allow a reduction in the number of Snatch Land Rovers; however, commanders hold that a role for lighter vehicles on operations is likely to remain, as part of the suite of protected patrol vehicles and high mobility patrol vehicles available to them.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions are in place on the movement of armed forces personnel in the back of four tonne vehicles with regard to  (a) maximum distance travelled and  (b) time allowed in the back of the vehicle.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 7 May 2008
	The four tonne vehicle referred to in this question is defined as a Dual Purpose Vehicle (DPV). When used to carry passengers, the DPV can be used on public roads for single journeys of not more than 40 miles and not exceeding one hour. This distance and time may only be exceeded when carrying out operations, training for operations and conducting formal field training exercises.
	DPVs fitted with troop carrying vehicle enhanced seating are exempt from these time and distance restrictions, when travelling on metalled roads. Where they are used to carry passengers in off road scenarios, journey times should not exceed one hour at 20 to 25 mph over an eight hour period. Enhanced seating is being progressively phased in throughout the DPV fleet.

Armed Forces: Working Conditions

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of service personnel at each rank between OR1 and OR6 have worked above 55 hours per week on average since October 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a continuous sample survey of working patterns, which provides information on hours worked in a given week.
	The survey is based on a random sample of 18,000 trained service personnel stratified by service, broad rank group and broad location which aims to provide estimates of the average weekly hours worked for those groups and locations.
	Since any respondent only provides a diary of their working hours for a single week we cannot make any further inferences about individual working patterns over a prolonged period.
	Work is currently in progress on the 2007-08 Survey of Working Patterns and the report is expected to be ready towards the end of 2008.

Armed Forces: Working Conditions

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of service personnel at each rank between OR1 and OR6 worked above 55 hours per week on average between October 2006 and October 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a continuous sample survey of working patterns, which provides information on hours worked in a given week.
	The survey is based on a random sample of 18,000 trained service personnel stratified by service, broad rank group and broad location which aims to provide estimates of the average weekly hours worked for those groups and locations.
	Since any respondent will only provide a diary of their working hours for a single week we cannot make any further inferences about individual working patterns over a prolonged period.
	The average weekly hours worked for senior ranks (OR6 to OR9) in 2006-07 was 47.9 and junior ranks (OR1 to OR5) 46.7. Time spent working includes core activities, secondary duties, compulsory fitness, training, organised sports and representational activities but excludes breaks.
	A copy of the 2006-07 Continuous Working Patterns report is in the Library of the House.

Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the longest period is for which a residential or former residential dwelling of his Department in Colchester constituency has remained empty.

Derek Twigg: Data is only available for those residential properties which are currently empty. Of these, seven properties at Colchester have been vacant for seven years awaiting major modernisation. These seven properties now form part of the Colchester upgrade programme spanning financial years 2009-11.
	In 1996, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) sold most of its Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties in England and Wales to Annington Homes Ltd (AHL), the majority of which were immediately leased back by this Department for defence use. When surplus to defence requirements, properties are handed back to AHL, who is solely responsible for the property until AHL sell the property on the open market. The MOD is not required to maintain records of these properties once they have been handed back to AHL.
	Since May 2007, the total number of void SFA in Great Britain has reduced from 9,162 to 8,761 properties.

Ex-servicemen: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the ability of the Joint Service Housing Advice Office to assist service leavers on their departure from the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: The Joint Service Housing Advice Office's (JSHAO) main task is to ensure that the Service community is aware of new schemes from both the public and private sector that may help them in their search for civilian housing when they leave the Services.
	During 2007, JSHAO ran 85 briefings designed to encourage Service personnel to make long term housing provision while they are in Service. These briefings were attended by over 2,000 Service Personnel.
	The JSHAO maintains links with Housing Associations that have a specific commitment to help Service leavers and their housing needs. It also runs a referral scheme (the MOD Nomination Scheme); through which a total of 81 families and individuals were housed in 2007.

Saudi Arabia: BAE Systems

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he or any of the Ministers in his Department have been informed by  (a) BAe Systems and  (b) the Serious Fraud Office of any payments made by BAe to the ex-Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

Des Browne: It is our policy not to comment on commercially or diplomatically sensitive or legally privileged information because to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations, commercial confidentiality or our legal obligations.

Territorial Army: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel are based in Northern Ireland.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of Territorial Army (TA) personnel based in Northern Ireland as at 31 March 2008 was 1,962. Additionally there were 100 TA personnel, normally based in Northern Ireland, mobilised and serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Assets: Consultants

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2844W, on assets: consultants, which  (a) properties and  (b) other parts of the estate each of the firms listed provided advice on.

Tom Watson: I have nothing to add to my previous answer.

Children

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of  (a) individuals and  (b) couples had at least one child below the age of five years in (i) Basingstoke constituency, (ii) Hampshire and (iii) England in each year for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of (a) individuals and (b) couples had at least one child below the age of five years in (i) Basingstoke, (ii) Hampshire and (iii) England in each year for which figures are available. (202989)
	The requested counts for Local Authorities/Parliamentary Constituencies are only available from the Census. Figures from earlier Censuses would only be available at disproportionate cost. The figures from the 2001 Census are provided below:
	
		
			  Area  Lone parent families with at least one dependent child  aged 0 to 4  Percentage of all families with dependent children, who are lone parent families with at least one dependent child  aged 0 to 4  Couple families with at least one dependent child  aged 0 to 4  Percentage of all families with dependent children who, are couple families with at least one dependent child  aged 0 to 4 
			 England 503,391 8.4 1,810,063 30.1 
			 Hampshire 8,478 5.6 48,421 31.9 
			 Basingstoke and Deane District 1,274 6.5 6,620 33.9 
			 Basingstoke Parliamentary Constituency 1,033 7.5 4,640 33.8 
			  Notes: 1. A dependent child is a person in a household aged 0 to 15 (whether or not in a family) or a person aged 16 to 18 who is a full-time student in a family with parent(s). 2. A family comprises a group of people consisting of a married or cohabiting couple with or without child(ren), or a lone parent with child(ren). It also includes a married or cohabiting couple with their grandchild(ren) or a lone grandparent with his or her grandchild(ren) where there are no children in the intervening generation in the household. Cohabiting couples include same sex couples. Children in a couple family need not belong to both members of the couple. 3. The counts for Hampshire exclude the Unitary Authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton.  Source: 2001 Census Tables S007 and CAS007

Children: Bereavement

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of those under the age of  (a) three,  (b) five and  (c) 16 years had been bereaved by the death of their (i) mother, (ii) father and (iii) sibling at the latest date for which figures are available.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many and what proportion of those under the age of (a) three, (b) five and (c) 16 years had been bereaved by the death of their (i) mother, (ii) father and (iii) sibling at the latest date for which figures are available. (202856)
	Although information on the relationship of the informant to the deceased is collected at death registration, information on whether the deceased had living children or siblings when death occurred is not, and therefore the information requested is not available.

Citizen Information Project

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recommendations of the Citizen Information Project the Office for National Statistics has implemented; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report.

Tom Watson: The information falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what recommendations of the Citizen Information Project the Office for National Statistics has implemented. (203133)
	On 18 April 2006 ( Official Report, column 1WS) the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced that the Government had accepted the recommendations by the CIP team based in the Office for National Statistics. The CIP project was subsequently closed by ONS: the relevant government departments will have been responsible for implementing the recommendations. A copy of the report can be found at:
	http://www.gro.gov.uk/cip

Construction: Manpower

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were employed in the construction industry in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Katen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question asking how many people have been employed in the construction industry in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997. (198839).
	The definitive source for the number of people employed is normally the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, because of the interest in the construction sector, estimates of the number of jobs have been compiled from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI/1).
	Table 1 attached provides an estimate of jobs in Construction (Standard Industrial Classification (1992) section F) for Great Britain, the North East, South Tyneside and Jarrow for each year from 1997 to 2006, the most recent available. Estimates using the ABI/1 are not available for the United Kingdom.
	Figures from the ABI/1 do not include self-employed jobs and therefore these estimates will understate the actual total number of jobs.
	As with any survey, results from the ABI/1 are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of jobs in Construction Industries( 1, 2) 
			   Thousand (not seasonally adjusted) 
			   Great Britain  North East  South Tyneside  Jarrow( 3) 
			 1997(4) 1,004 53 4 3 
			 1998 1,108 52 3 2 
			 1999 1,131 56 3 2 
			 2000 1,128 56 2 1 
			 2001 1,156 57 2 1 
			 2002 1,163 54 2 1 
			 2003 1,138 53 2 1 
			 2004 1,181 58 2 1 
			 2005 1,213 62 3 2 
			 2006 1,257 60 2 1 
			 (1) Standard Industrial Classification (1992) section F.  (2) The Annual Business Inquiry does not include estimates of self-employment jobs. Therefore the estimates provided will be lower than the actual total.  (3) 1995 Parliamentary Constituency Revision Boundary.  (4) Figures for 1997 are based on estimates from the rescaled Annual Employment Survey and therefore there is a discontinuity between 1997 and 1998.   Notes:  1. Annual Business Inquiry figures are a measure of jobs rather than people. For example, if a person holds two jobs, each job will be counted in the total.  2. Estimates for the United Kingdom using the Annual Business Inquiry are not available.  3. There are significant discontinuities which affect comparisons of the 2006 ABI/1 estimates with earlier years and additionally with respect to changes to Standard Industrial Classifications and Geographies in 2003. More information is available from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/abi/backgroundjnfo.asp.  Source: Annual Business Inquiry (ABI/1)

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Cabinet Office spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting were made in each such year.

Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office is a member of the Government carbon offsetting fund (GCOF). The GCOF aims to fulfil the Prime Minister's commitment to offset emissions attributable to all official and ministerial air travel in central Government. It is available to all central Government Departments and provides a simple and cost-effective way to offset, as well as ensuring high environmental integrity. The GCOF runs for an initial period of three years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09). The Cabinet Office and DEFRA have offset an extra year (2005-06).
	The Cabinet Office has paid £32,326.88 into the GCOF from April 2005 to April 2007. Data are currently being collected for the 2007-08 reporting year and will be available later in the year.
	The GCOF is being managed by EEA Fund Management Ltd, who won the contract to source and deliver 255,000 certified emission reduction credits, with a provision for a further 50,000 credits, over three years from a range of clean development mechanism (COM) projects. Credits will be supplied from the project portfolio of Trading Emissions plc, to whom EEA is the investment adviser.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on  (a) alcohol and  (b) entertaining in the last 12 month period for which information is available.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office does not keep separate records of expenditure on alcohol or entertaining. Such expenditure is included within the Department's hospitality budget and is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and other HM Treasury guidance.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of his Department's staff took more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35 and  (h) 40 days leave due to stress in each of the last five years, broken down by pay grade.

Tom Watson: The most recent published absence data for the Cabinet Office is available for the 12 months ending 31 March 2007, in the Analysis of Cabinet Office Statistics. This is available on the civil service statistics website at
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp.
	Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
	In order to protect the confidentiality of individuals, it is standard Government practice not to publish records relating to five or less individuals. A breakdown of figures on absence owing to stress by grade and period of absence cannot be provided since this may compromise the privacy of the individuals because of the small numbers involved.

Departmental Standards

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how his Department plans to work on social clauses to promote adherence to the Best Value Code of Practice on Workforce Matters and the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Workforce Matters.

Phil Hope: The Department has no plans to work on social clauses to promote adherence to the Best Value Code of Practice on Workforce Matters and the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Workforce Matters. Under the code, public sector organisations have a responsibility to ensure that service providers implement the code, whereas social clauses cover additional clauses in public service contracts which are used at the discretion of the public sector commissioner.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many full-time posts in the Cabinet Office were filled on a temporary basis for a period in excess of six months in each of the last three years.

Tom Watson: For the number of temporary staff working in the Department, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Dan Rogerson) on 22 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 1957-8W, by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Phil Hope).
	The Department does not centrally hold information on length of tenure for temporary staff and the information could be collected only at disproportionate costs.

Employment

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of those in employment in  (a) Suffolk and  (b) the East of England were British-born UK nationals in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of those in employment in (a) Suffolk and (b) the East of England were British-born UK nationals in each of the last five years. (201493)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	The attached table shows the percentage of persons of working age (16-64 for men, 16-59 for women) in employment who were British-born UK nationals. Estimates are obtained from the annual LFS for each 12 month period from 2003 to 2004 ending in February. For time series comparisons, the APS estimates from 2005 to 2007 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in March, but the most recently released estimate is also included, which covers the 12 month period ending in September 2007.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	In order to produce estimates for small geographical areas, APS and annual LFS estimates are provided based on survey microdata. It should be noted that the estimate provided is weighted to population estimates consistent with those published in 2003. Reweighted analyses using the latest population estimates, published in summer 2007, will available from 14 May 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1 :British born UK nationals as a proportion of those in employment( 1)  in (a) Suffolk and (b) the East of England in the last five years 
			  Percentage 
			  12 months ending :  Suffolk  East of England 
			 February 2003 93 92 
			 February 2004 93 93 
			 March 2005 94 92 
			 March 2006 91 91 
			 March 2007 93 89 
			 September 2007 92 89 
			 (1) Persons of working age (male 16 to 64, female 16 to 59).  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey

Employment

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an estimate of the number of people who are  (a) in full-time work,  (b) in part-time work for 20 to 30 hours per week,  (c) in part-time work for 10 to 20 hours per week,  (d) in part-time work for less than 10 hours per week and  (e) out of work, broken down by age decile.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of people (a) in full-time work, (b) in part-time work for 20 to 30 hours per week, (c) in part-time work for 10 to 20 hours per week, (d) in part-time work for less than 10 hours per week and (e) out of work, broken down by age decile. (202553)
	The attached table gives estimates of the number of people in full-time and part-time employment and the number of unemployed people for the categories requested for the three month period ending December 2007.
	It should be noted that the estimates provided are weighted to population estimates consistent with those published in 2003. Reweighted analyses using the latest population estimates, published in summer 2007, will available from 14 May 2008.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  People aged 16 and over by labour market status, three months ending December 2007—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			   In employment 
			Part-time( 1)  
			  Age group  Full-time( 1)  Total part-time  Less than 10 hours per week( 2)  10 to 19 hours per week( 2)  20 to 30 hours per week( 2)  More than 30 hours per week( 2)  Unemployed( 3) 
			 16 to 19 574 794 284 348 149 14 355 
			 20 to 29 4,452 983 112 390 420 60 431 
			 30 to 39 5,009 1,384 129 492 675 89 257 
			 40 to 49 5,532 1,618 134 530 822 132 244 
			 50 to 59 4,139 1,312 130 399 668 114 181 
			 60 to 69 1,095 857 182 301 332 42 48 
			 Aged 70 and over 49 155 58 47 46 4 3 
			 All aged 16 and over 20,850 7,103 1,029 2,506 3,112 456 1,517 
			 (1) Based on respondents' self-classification of their main job as either full-time or part-time. (2) The weekly hour figures shown relate to the total hours usually worked in an individuals main job. rounded to the nearest hour. (3) Number of unemployed people measured using the internationally agreed definition recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).  Note: The estimates are grossed using population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the Statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008,  Official Report, column 327.

Tom Watson: My Department currently provides an occupational health advisory service for staff which may be regarded as health and social care paid for out of public funds for the purposes of the Health and Social Care Bill.

Industrial Health and Safety

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 593W, on industrial health and safety, what the incident reported in 10 Downing Street between April 2006 and March 2007 was; whether it involved  (a) an injury,  (b) a disease and  (c) a dangerous occurrence; and how many of those affected were (i) civil servants, (ii) special advisers and (iii) Ministers.

Tom Watson: The incident related to the use of a drilling machine by a sub-contractor working on behalf of the Cabinet Office and was recorded as a RIDDOR near-miss/dangerous occurrence. No injuries were suffered by any person.

JP Morgan

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Cabinet Office paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office has not made any payments to JP Morgan since 1997.

Low Incomes: Taxation

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what research the Social Exclusion Unit has undertaken on the effects of the tax system on low-income households.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 694.

Manufacturing Industries: Statistics

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effect on the quality of labour market statistical information from  (a) the manufacturing industry and  (b) the furniture industry of the reduction in the sample size for the Monthly Production Inquiry.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the assessment of the effect on the quality of labour market statistical information from (a) the manufacturing industry and (b) the furniture industry of the reduction in sample size of the Monthly Production Inquiry (MPI). (201982)
	The MPI collects turnover and employment information from businesses in Great Britain, which is used mainly for the compilation of National Accounts and Labour Market Statistics.
	Monthly series for employee jobs in the manufacturing sector are published on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website. In March 2008, when ONS published estimates for January 2008, the MPI sample of businesses was reduced by around 10 per cent, as part of a wider ONS efficiency programme and to meet ONS' targets to reduce the burden it places on business. The sample was reallocated across the sample cells (defined by business size-bands and industries) to make the best use of the survey information. This offset the quality impact of reducing the sample size and enabled us to meet our aim of maintaining the quality of estimates at the aggregate level. At the more detailed level, some industries gained in quality at the expense of others.
	Sampling errors are a key measure of survey quality, and were estimated to inform the sample changes and assess the impact on quality. The coefficient of variation is simply the sampling error given as a percentage of the actual estimate, which allows for a relative measure of error for comparative purposes. Please note that estimates of sampling error are themselves subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	(a) The estimate of GB employee jobs in manufacturing in January 2008 was 2,806 thousand. The previous coefficient of variation of 1.2 per cent gave us 95 per cent confidence that the estimate was between 2773 and 2839 thousand. The changes resulted in a small increase in precision, with a coefficient of variation of 1.1 per cent, giving us 95 per cent confidence that the estimate was between 2776 and 2836 thousand.
	(b) The estimate of GB employee jobs series in furniture manufacturing in January 2008 was 102 thousand. The previous coefficient of variation of 5.9 per cent gave us 95 per cent confidence that the estimate was between 96 and 108 thousand. The changes resulted in a small decrease in precision, with a coefficient of variation of 6.9 per cent, giving us 95 per cent confidence that the estimate was between 95 and 109 thousand.

Migration: Statistics

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what additional resources are being made available to the Office for National Statistics to undertake the workplan it has recommended to improve migration estimates.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on what additional resources are being made available to the Office for National Statistics to undertake the Workplan it has recommended to improve migration estimates. (199298)
	The statistical work programme for the next four year period is being finalised and will be published shortly. ONS will also be making a related announcement that will provide the details of the migration statistics improvement programme.

NHS: Statistics

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information was made available, and when, to Ministers in his Department on the Department of Health's NHS quarterly inpatient and outpatient waiting times statistics' failure against the six criteria of clarity, accuracy, objectivity, professionalism, use of simple language and ease of use; and what representations have been made to his Department by the Office of National Statistics on this matter.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what information had been available, and when, to Ministers on the Department of Health's NHS quarterly inpatient and outpatient waiting times statistics' failure against the six criteria of clarity, accuracy, objectivity, professionalism, use of simple language and ease of use; and what representation had been made to his Department by the Office of National Statistics on this matter. (202771)
	Statistical Heads of Profession in the relevant Departments, the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, and I as his Chief Executive, all received a copy of the Statistics Commission's 39th Report which was published on 13 March 2008 and entitled 'Releasing Official Statistics: A Review of Statistical First Releases'. Heads of Profession in other Departments will have informed their Ministers as appropriate. That report described the Commission's recent review of a sample of statistical releases issued by the Government Statistical Service against six key criteria relating to release practices. Included in the Commission's sample was the Department of Health's NHS quarterly Inpatient and Outpatient Waiting Times release. The Head of Profession for Statistics in the Department of Health wrote to the National Statistician at the time indicating that remedial measures would be taken where appropriate. It is now the case that commentary will be included with all Department of Health statistical releases. Additionally, and once the Authority's statutory Head of Assessment is in place, the Authority will consider when and how it will assess this release against its Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Older Workers

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people aged  (a) 50 to 55,  (b) 56 to 60 and  (c) 61 to 65 years (i) were in full-time work, (ii) worked for more than 30 hours per week, but not full-time, (iii) worked for between 20 and 30 hours per week, (iv) worked for between 10 and 20 hours per week and (v) worked for fewer than 10 hours per week.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many people aged  (a) 50 to 55,  (b) 56 to 60 and  (c) 61 to 65 years (i) are in full time work, (ii) work for more than 30 hours per week, but not full time, (iii) work for between 20 and 30 hours per week, (iv) work for between 10 and 20 hours per week and (v) work for fewer than 10 hours per week. (203480)
	The attached table gives estimates of the number of people in full-time and part-time employment for the categories requested for the three month period ending December 2007.
	It should be noted that the estimates provided are weighted to population estimates consistent with those published in 2003. Reweighted analyses using the latest population estimates, published in summer 2007, will be available from 14 May 2008.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  People in full-time and part-time( 1)  employment, by age group, three months ending December 2007, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			   In employment 
			Part-time( 1) 
			  Age group  Full-time( 1)  Part -t ime( 1)  Less than 10 hours per week( 2)  10 to 19 hours per week( 2)  20 to 30 hours per week( 2)  More than 30 hours per week( 2) 
			 50 to 55 2,701 758 63 227 394 75 
			 56 to 60 1,728 714 100 224 343 48 
			 61 to 65 719 510 102 183 199 26 
			 All aged 16 and over 20,850 7,103 1,029 2,506 3,112 456 
			 (1) Based on respondents' self-classification of their main job as either full-time or part-time (2) The weekly hour figures shown relate to the total hours usually worked in an individuals main job. rounded to the nearest hour. The estimates are grossed using population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003  Source:  ONS Labour Force Survey

Prostate Cancer

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1056W, on prostate cancer, how many diagnoses of prostate cancer there were in  (a) England,  (b) each strategic health authority area and  (c) each primary care trust area in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many diagnoses of prostate cancer there were in  (a) England,  (b) by each strategic health authority area and  (c) each primary care trust area in each year since 1997.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer are for the year 2005. Figures for 1997 to 2005 for  (a) England and  (b) each strategic health authority area were given in the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1056W. Figures for  (a) England and  (c) each primary care trust area for the same period are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of prostate( 1) , males: England, and Primary Care Organisations grouped within Strategic Health Authorities ( 2,3)  1997-2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 19,878 20,375 22,203 24,256 27,380 27,777 27,672 29,406 28,886 
			 North East SHA  
			 County Durham 180 206 174 202 248 232 263 247 247 
			 Darlington 47 46 66 47 39 69 57 54 47 
			 Gateshead 74 98 114 94 115 126 120 100 148 
			 Hartlepool 34 36 43 40 47 45 60 46 36 
			 Middlesbrough 77 70 77 71 83 48 95 86 103 
			 Newcastle 77 101 116 152 126 181 127 121 91 
			 North Tees 42 63 82 81 87 88 75 72 79 
			 North Tyneside 72 74 92 126 134 122 141 125 106 
			 Northumberland 91 146 157 161 248 196 194 178 229 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 64 52 93 101 84 83 110 94 97 
			 South Tyneside 45 47 57 49 51 73 76 59 64 
			 Sunderland Teaching 84 124 158 119 145 126 157 139 156 
			 North West SHA  
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 54 72 76 109 138 131 134 191 209 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 44 43 62 61 68 57 68 66 59 
			 Blackpool 58 70 69 72 84 112 141 132 90 
			 Bolton 88 94 84 86 164 115 104 167 142 
			 Bury 65 68 77 68 100 126 100 123 136 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire 128 162 222 256 280 268 281 313 282 
			 Central Lancashire 205 193 193 222 252 226 255 331 379 
			 Cumbria 204 198 189 232 249 281 222 243 299 
			 East Lancashire 164 160 186 231 236 201 226 214 232 
			 Halton and St. Helens 107 118 123 81 123 130 135 173 143 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale 52 81 78 102 116 97 114 123 130 
			 Knowsley 46 40 45 57 58 78 68 111 74 
			 Liverpool 136 145 168 149 194 185 191 306 221 
			 Manchester 139 124 133 132 174 164 152 180 205 
			 North Lancashire 170 197 174 154 243 206 247 301 263 
			 Oldham 67 84 70 88 107 108 131 185 171 
			 Salford 97 77 72 88 69 73 109 118 126 
			 Sefton 108 101 128 128 151 159 174 267 228 
			 Stockport 141 117 134 155 195 191 177 205 228 
			 Tameside and Glossop 93 108 107 114 114 131 128 159 146 
			 Trafford 113 112 121 128 128 150 136 182 138 
			 Warrington 69 60 48 78 93 70 66 73 61 
			 Western Cheshire 87 76 165 175 175 139 152 158 177 
			 Wirral 131 140 124 154 151 144 131 158 166 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA  
			 Barnsley 75 68 69 79 78 111 105 116 120 
			 Bradford and Airedale 118 132 151 181 211 208 199 221 212 
			 Calderdale 66 76 73 84 101 67 86 111 111 
			 Doncaster 105 100 111 121 138 103 127 133 113 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 144 147 151 167 180 205 222 235 242 
			 Hull 74 102 87 93 112 106 109 145 116 
			 Kirklees 167 142 131 143 151 169 177 197 171 
			 Leeds 277 271 300 318 390 316 384 406 364 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 59 54 62 74 108 116 99 75 89 
			 North Lincolnshire 76 61 82 72 67 90 71 77 73 
			 North Yorkshire and York 290 358 349 484 529 525 546 607 575 
			 Rotherham 66 58 47 84 75 90 62 85 79 
			 Sheffield 204 104 182 320 338 289 265 294 277 
			 Wakefield District 136 143 128 151 152 203 186 205 186 
			 East Midlands SHA  
			 Bassetlaw 47 34 35 42 43 52 61 37 60 
			 Derby City 82 65 86 107 116 118 120 120 144 
			 Derbyshire County 241 260 305 343 380 416 381 400 430 
			 Leicester City 65 63 84 103 98 111 89 106 95 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland 195 183 260 329 331 295 328 412 442 
			 Lincolnshire 283 340 350 359 441 453 511 559 612 
			 Northamptonshire 224 273 286 330 385 405 346 352 432 
			 Nottingham City 98 87 88 88 75 61 44 115 98 
			 Nottinghamshire County 218 214 248 215 236 208 206 305 295 
			 West Midlands SHA  
			 Birmingham East and North 175 145 168 174 257 277 256 289 233 
			 Coventry Teaching 128 135 129 160 171 179 164 193 194 
			 Dudley 93 112 128 121 148 156 198 137 187 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching 88 102 87 90 113 124 128 143 112 
			 Herefordshire 81 72 76 104 118 107 101 112 108 
			 North Staffordshire 85 78 79 78 122 86 104 85 104 
			 Sandwell 109 116 166 143 150 1.87 157 126 132 
			 Shropshire County 158 166 158 187 206 219 211 204 218 
			 Solihull 109 123 119 139 154 181 148 188 155 
			 South Birmingham 139 139 158 166 236 221 221 221 220 
			 South Staffordshire 198 206 274 297 297 346 377 434 393 
			 Stoke on Trent 80 73 74 94 102 93 117 91 104 
			 Telford and Wrekin 54 58 62 57 61 72 81 70 66 
			 Walsall Teaching 90 96 97 111 146 173 147 168 193 
			 Warwickshire 193 263 265 327 325 333 286 337 308 
			 Wolverhampton City 90 109 104 141 143 157 156 138 174 
			 Worcestershire 215 254 267 334 327 324 397 441 449 
			 East of England SHA  
			 Bedfordshire 114 136 148 142 191 180 189 192 183 
			 Cambridgeshire 222 183 249 292 328 361 354 351 415 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 192 204 241 277 240 215 241 304 361 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney 89 113 137 127 158 152 153 132 109 
			 Luton 45 35 45 56 48 53 45 74 76 
			 Mid Essex 124 147 160 147 191 149 190 145 203 
			 Norfolk 328 350 393 474 500 655 521 581 531 
			 North East Essex 103 120 120 202 221 193 180 140 207 
			 Peterborough 46 60 73 81 81 95 77 78 75 
			 South East Essex 185 161 160 206 230 203 227 211 177 
			 South West Essex 166 135 129 165 205 190 208 197 183 
			 Suffolk 319 280 330 324 368 385 447 419 394 
			 West Essex 113 155 165 198 221 220 201 197 229 
			 West Hertfordshire 201 187 259 247 210 219 161 143 310 
			 London SHA  
			 Barking and Dagenham 74 75 84 74 80 72 63 70 63 
			 Barnet 92 130 150 128 140 150 127 140 134 
			 Bexley 102 111 108 99 102 111 92 102 79 
			 Brent Teaching 91 112 116 112 116 124 124 126 127 
			 Bromley 80 86 104 99 122 149 127 96 87 
			 Camden 79 69 70 50 75 98 71 57 83 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 82 68 68 67 84 87 84 87 74 
			 Croydon 123 105 111 121 148 193 166 170 224 
			 Ealing 104 103 113 96 101 102 132 114 121 
			 Enfield 101 94 106 112 123 127 123 120 112 
			 Greenwich Teaching 82 84 89 107 86 75 75 84 81 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 36 40 41 53 69 33 70 62 75 
			 Haringey Teaching 74 63 65 51 90 72 77 90 98 
			 Harrow 83 79 91 86 78 71 112 92 128 
			 Havering 109 112 122 136 155 167 155 188 141 
			 Hillingdon 99 117 79 87 80 89 107 111 92 
			 Hounslow 53 49 45 62 63 60 69 59 58 
			 Islington 79 64 61 65 74 55 54 75 67 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 56 58 55 73 67 67 65 70 59 
			 Kingston 72 59 73 74 82 87 83 81 68 
			 Lambeth 89 81 85 102 108 116 116 101 109 
			 Lewisham 91 99 88 119 139 134 91 105 75 
			 Newham 78 69 61 73 59 65 73 72 53 
			 Redbridge 102 109 113 104 121 90 108 92 83 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 71 68 70 63 70 104 76 75 66 
			 Southwark 59 63 102 101 95 94 90 85 80 
			 Button and Merton 140 156 146 189 196 168 179 187 148 
			 Tower Hamlets 57 59 66 41 55 57 67 39 41 
			 Waltham Forest 68 82 83 50 62 67 83 49 61 
			 Wandsworth 106 114 109 109 138 155 125 127 112 
			 Westminster 61 83 68 94 96 76 78 86 76 
			 South East Coast SHA  
			 Brighton and Hove City 127 90 130 143 120 106 98 106 98 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald 234 207 249 231 235 224 184 215 216 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent 304 310 330 292 344 366 395 405 402 
			 Hastings and Rother 93 94 91 93 82 130 110 98 97 
			 Medway 98 87 81 81 108 122 103 106 126 
			 Surrey 517 488 524 571 573 530 517 478 522 
			 West Kent 294 307 303 323 412 342 402 349 361 
			 West Sussex 413 411 514 554 564 477 453 504 492 
			 South Central SHA  
			 Berkshire East 142 148 154 172 231 207 258 265 221 
			 Berkshire West 195 220 259 240 216 215 272 284 221 
			 Buckinghamshire 210 207 266 287 356 345 324 365 292 
			 Hampshire 502 516 561 668 738 833 725 762 733 
			 Isle of Wight NHS 56 48 69 48 94 91 100 97 104 
			 Milton Keynes 62 82 80 98 127 121 109 119 96 
			 Oxfordshire 169 237 247 344 355 364 339 383 314 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching 46 52 70 67 81 80 87 89 86 
			 Southampton City 99 124 103 110 153 109 127 126 101 
			 South West SHA  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 91 82 87 91 82 142 126 128 124 
			 Bournemouth and Poole 233 216 233 262 272 302 268 310 290 
			 Bristol 140 152 164 137 167 208 210 204 179 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 276 254 312 274 401 383 359 334 356 
			 Devon 434 377 370 430 574 590 635 648 519 
			 Dorset 336 312 308 400 439 503 469 510 423 
			 Gloucestershire 235 250 282 309 354 301 324 373 372 
			 North Somerset 104 112 126 107 140 151 198 179 125 
			 Plymouth Teaching 106 115 94 36 140 110 158 191 143 
			 Somerset 248 258 238 261 350 365 351 381 415 
			 South Gloucestershire 98 83 109 109 108 156 166 149 138 
			 Swindon 54 58 57 70 57 102 71 86 109 
			 Torbay 81 67 71 85 88 78 106 106 121 
			 Wiltshire 193 199 217 255 273 351 387 390 368 
			 (1) Malignant neoplasm of prostate is defined as code C61 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) (2) Based on NHS boundaries as of October 2006. (3) Each primary care organisation (PCO) is listed under the strategic health authority (SHA) to which it reports. The 152 primary care organisations include 148 primary care trusts (PCTs), and 4 care organisations (COs). The PCOs are not all coterminous with SHAs?see Annex C footnotes at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/health_areas.asp Source:  Office for National Statistics

Self-employed: North East

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many self-employed people worked in the construction industry in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many self-employed people worked in the construction industry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. (202455)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the number of people aged 16 and over, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK who were self employed in the construction industry in each year since 1997. Estimates are obtained from the annual LFS for each 12 month period from 1997 to 2004 ending in February. For time series comparisons, the APS estimates from 2005 to 2007 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in March, but the most recently released estimate is also included, which covers the 12 month period ending in September 2007.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	In order to produce estimates for small geographical areas, APS and annual LFS estimates are provided based on survey microdata. It should be noted that the estimate provided is weighted to population estimates consistent with those published in 2003. Reweighted analysis using the latest population estimates, published in summer 2007, will be available from 14 May 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of self-employed people in the construction industry in Jarrow, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK 
			  Thousand 
			  12 months ending  Jarrow  South Tyneside  North East  UK 
			 February 1997 (1)— (1)— 15 111 
			 February 1998 (1)— 1 20 681 
			 February 1999 1 1 20 668 
			 February 2000 (1)— 1 16 643 
			 February 2001 (2)— 1 13 653 
			 February 2002 1 1 14 694 
			 February 2003 1 1 18 725 
			 February 2004 (2)— 1 18 787 
			 March 2005 1 1 19 816 
			 March 2006 1 1 23 820 
			 March 2007 (2)— 1 24 842 
			 September 2007 1 1 24 838 
			 (1) Sample size too small to provide estimates (2) Less than 500  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey & Annual Population Survey

Unemployment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of households included no-one in full-time employment  (a) in 1997 and  (b) in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) constituency, (ii) local authority and (iii) region;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of people lived in households with no-one in full-time employment  (a) in 1997 and  (b) in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) constituency, (ii) local authority and (iii) region.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your two parliamentary questions. The first asks how many and what proportion of households included no-one in full-time employment  (a) in 1997 and  (b) in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) constituency, (ii) local authority and (iii) region (203278). The second asks how many and what proportion of people lived in households where no-one was in full time employment  (a) in 1997 and  (b) in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) constituency, (ii) local authority and (iii) region (203279).
	Estimates in the attached tables are provided from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). There is currently no annual household dataset, so the figures are given for the April-June quarter to be consistent with those published in the 'Work and worklessness among households' First Release (see web link
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/work0807.pdf).
	A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Data for English and Welsh parliamentary constituencies has been provided for 1999 as data are not available for 1997. Data for Scottish parliamentary constituencies are only available for 2007.
	The household datasets (like the main quarterly LFS microdatasets) are weighted to the population estimates published by ONS in February and March 2003. They do not incorporate the more recent population estimates used in the headline LFS series.
	Figures for households are based on working age households. A working-age household is a household that includes at least one person of working-age, that is a woman aged 16 to 59 or a man aged 16 to 64.
	The LFS is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three month period. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Unemployment: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were unemployed in  (a) the London Borough of Enfield and  (b) (i) Chase, (ii) Enfield Highway, (iii) Enfield Lock, (iv) Highlands, (v) Southbury, (vi) Town and (vii) Turkey Street wards in the borough in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 May 2008
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were unemployed in (a) the London Borough of Enfield and (b) the following wards in the borough: (i) Chase, (ii) Enfield Highway, (iii) Enfield Lock, (iv) Highlands, (v) Southbury, (vi) Town and (vii) Turkey Street in each of the last 10 years.
	The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of total unemployment for unitary and local authorities, from a statistical model, following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows model based estimates of the total number of unemployed, for the Enfield borough. Estimates are obtained for each 12 month period from 1997 to 2004 ending in February. For time series comparisons, the estimates from 2005 to 2007 are provided covering the 12 month periods ending in March, but the most recently released estimate is also included, which covers the 12 months ending in September 2007. Corresponding estimates for local government wards are not available.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	It should be noted that the estimate provided is weighted to population estimates consistent with those published in 2003. Reweighted analyses using the latest population estimates, published in summer 2007, will be available from 14 May 2008.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the total numbers of people resident in the Enfield borough and the specified wards, claiming JSA. At ward level, data is only available for periods from 2004. In addition, March 2008 data has been included as being the latest data available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons unemployed in Enfield borough for the last 10 years. 
			  Thousand 
			  12 months ending  Unemployed 
			 February 1997 12 
			 February 1998 10 
			 February 1999 10 
			 February 2000 9 
			 February 2001 9 
			 February 2002 8 
			 February 2003 9 
			 February 2004 9 
			 March 2005 9 
			 March 2006 12 
			 March 2007 10 
			 September 2007 9 
			  Source: Annual Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of persons claiming Job Seekers Allowance . 
			   Enfield Borough  Chase  Enfield Highway  Enfield Lock  Highlands  Southbury  Town  Turkey Street 
			 February 1997 10,260 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 1998 7,869 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 1999 7,442 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 2000 6,898 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 2001 5,744 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 2002 5,501 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 2003 5,905 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 February 2004 6,081 190 378 340 140 310 159 284 
			 March 2005 6,077 208 347 379 137 262 150 298 
			 March 2006 6,732 212 398 362 165 275 155 315 
			 March 2007 6,153 185 355 347 131 290 122 312 
			 March 2008 5,220 194 328 307 130 251 123 276 
			 n/a = data not available  Source: DWP

Voluntary Organisations: Heywood

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what proportion of contracts awarded to third sector organisations that provide services in Heywood and Middleton constituency were three year contracts in the latest period for which information is available;
	(2)  what progress has been made towards ensuring third sector organisations providing services in Heywood and Middleton constituency are awarded three year contracts.

Phil Hope: This Government are committed to ensuring that three-year funding for third sector organisations becomes the norm rather than the exception. I will be reporting on Government progress in meeting this funding commitment to HM Treasury on an annual basis. The first report will be made in the autumn 2008 and will be laid before Parliament. It is expected that local authorities will be making reports on three-year funding from 2009 onwards.
	The information requested is currently not recorded centrally.

Voluntary Organisations: Pensions

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many third sector organisations providing public services have provided  (a) a contracted out, final-salary based defined benefit pension scheme or  (b) a defined contribution scheme with employer contributions of at least 6 per cent. to new starters working on those contracts;
	(2)  how many third sector organisations providing public services have stakeholder pension schemes for new starters on those contracts;
	(3)  how many third sector organisations providing public services who have stakeholder pension schemes for new starters on those contracts match employee contributions of more than 6 per cent.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally. Where public services contracts involve a transfer of staff from a public sector organisation to a private or third sector service provider (or a subsequent retender of that contract where TUPE applies), the Code of Practice on Workforce Matters in Public Sector Service Contracts may apply. Where the code does apply, it will be for the relevant Government Department to monitor the implementation of the code, including in relation to pensions provision by service providers.

Voluntary Organisations: Standards

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what steps the Office of the Third Sector has taken to monitor  (a) the application of and  (b) compliance with the code of practice on workforce matters designed to prevent the development of a two tier workforce in public service contracts outsourced to the third sector;
	(2)  what steps the Office of the Third Sector has taken to assess the effects of the codes of practice on workforce matters designed to prevent the development of a two tier workforce in public service contracts outsourced to the third sector;
	(3)  whether the Third Sector Action Plan will be used to promote adherence to the Best Value Code of Practice on Workforce Matters and the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Workforce Matters.

Phil Hope: Public sector organisations oversee the way service providers implement the code, where appropriate. If employees or trade unions feel that the code is not being applied correctly they are invited in the first instance to alert the relevant public sector organisation. They are also supplied with contact details to seek advice in cases where they consider that the public sector organisation has failed to meet its responsibilities In addition, it is part of the ongoing work programme of the Public Services Forum to review the implementation of the code. This review will be undertaken in partnership by trade unions, the third and private sectors and government.
	Given these existing channels for concerns about the code to be raised and acted upon, the Office of the Third Sector has not taken steps to monitor application of, compliance with or the effectiveness of the code on work force matters. "Partnership in Public Services", the cross-government public service action plan, has 18 key actions around reducing the barriers to third sector involvement in public service delivery, and does not include promotion of the code.

Cars: Manufacturing Industries

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of pollution generated in the process of manufacturing a standard family car.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA has not undertaken any work to quantify the pollution associated with car manufacture. However, the King Review gives estimates of the carbon dioxide emitted at all life cycle stages. Similar information on other pollution impacts is published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and is also covered by the 'Environmental Improvement of Passenger Cars' report, recently published by the European Commission.

Domestic Wastes: Contracts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 491-6W, on domestic wastes: contract, if he will place in the Library copies of the final reports of the research projects with the SIS codes of  (a) WR0103,  (b) WR0104,  (c) WR0106,  (d) WR0107,  (e) WR0112,  (f) WR0217,  (g) WR0506,  (h) WR0512,  (i) WR0705 and  (j) WR0601.

Joan Ruddock: Every research project commissioned by DEFRA is published on our website once it is complete. The following projects are completed and arrangements are in hand to place them in the House Library:
	WR0107 - Modelling Impacts of Lifestyle Changes on Household Waste Arisings.
	WR0112 - Understanding Household Waste Prevention Behaviour.
	WR0512 - Evaluation of the Household Waste Incentives Pilot Scheme.
	WR0601 - Health and Environmental Impacts of Vermin/Insects in the Context of Waste Management Operations.
	The following projects are not yet complete, but will be made available as soon as final reports have been accepted for publication:
	WR0103 - Household Waste Prevention Policy Side Research Programme.
	WR0104 - Lifestyle Scenarios: Futures for Waste Composition.
	WR0106 - Achieving Household Waste Prevention and Promoting Sustainable Resource Use through Product Service Systems.
	WR0506 - Benefits of Third Sector Involvement in Waste Management.
	Although co-funded by DEFRA, the following projects were commissioned by other bodies and reports for these studies can therefore be obtained from them:
	WR0217 - Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Risks of Waste Collection and Handling Systems (Commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive).
	WR0705 - Updated Lifecycle Study on Reusable and Disposable Nappies (Commissioned by the Environment Agency).

EU Law

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to implement  (a) EC Regulation 166/2006,  (b) EC Regulation 1882/2002,  (c) Council Directive 96/61/EC,  (d) EU Directive 2003/87/EC and  (e) Commission Directive 2003/35.

Joan Ruddock: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) Steps taken to implement EC Regulation 166/2006
	The EC regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) and amending Council directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC was agreed on 18 January 2006 and came into force on 24 February 2006. PRTRs are publicly accessible compilations of data that describe the releases of substances to the environment and waste transfers. The E-PRTR regulation is a directly binding piece of European legislation and does therefore not need to be transposed into domestic law. In August 2007 DEFRA published a consultation document concerning among other issues proposals on designating competent authorities, enforcement, reporting requirements and quality assessment of the collected emissions data. We have recently published the Summary of Responses received during the consultation period.
	 (b) Steps taken to implement EC Regulation 1882/2002
	This regulation is published and updated daily and contains, for information, the Standard Import Values for determining the entry prices, on import into the EU, for certain fruit and vegetables. These values are used for customs tariff purposes by HM Revenue and Customs and importers. The regulation does not require implementation.
	 (c) and (e) Steps taken to implement Council Directive 96/61/EC and Commission Directive 2003/35
	The Council directive 96/61/EC on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) was agreed on 24 September 1996 and came into force on 30 October 1996. The IPPC directive provided a transitional period from 30 October 1999 to 30 October 2007 during which existing installations could be brought under the requirements of the directive. New installations had to comply from the outset.
	In England and Wales the IPPC directive was transposed through the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) (PPC) Regulations 2000. The PPC regulations were introduced under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999.
	The parts of the Public Participation directive 2003/35/EC which amended the IPPC directive and came into force on 25 June 2003, were transposed in England and Wales on that date through the PPC regulations. This directive provides an increase in the already high level of public participation in the process by which regulators consider applications for environmental permits to operate new or substantially changed industrial installations subject to the IPPC directive.
	From 6 April 2008 the PPC regulations have been superseded by the Environmental Permitting (EP) Regulations 2007.
	The IPPC directive and its subsequent amendments have since been codified and repealed by directive 2008/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (codified version).
	 (d) Steps taken to implement EU Directive 2003/87/EC:
	The EU emissions trading directive 2003/87/EC was agreed on 22 July 2003 and came into force on 25 October 2003. The directive has been transposed into UK legislation through the greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme regulations.
	On 24 May 2005 the UK published the approved National Allocation Plan (NAP) and installation-level allocations for Phase I of the EU ETS, which ran from 2005 to 2007. The approved NAP and final allocation decision for phase ii of the scheme, running from 2008 to 2012, were published on 16 March 2007.
	On 23 January 2008, the European Commission published its draft proposals for the review of the EU ETS required under article 30 of the EU directive on the EU ETS. The role of the review is to develop the EU ETS in a positive way post-2012 and learn from experiences so far. The UK welcomed the European Commission's ambitious proposals for tackling climate change and delivering a low carbon economy in Europe. The UK will now be entering into negotiations with other member states and the Commission and will also be releasing a formal consultation soon. Once agreed by the European Council and European Parliament, the changes will need to be transposed into UK law.

Fly Tipping: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of fly-tipping there were in the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last five years; and how many people were prosecuted in each such year for such offences.

Joan Ruddock: Data are only available from 2004 onwards.
	I have arranged for a table to be placed in the Library of the House showing the number of fly-tipping incidents and prosecutions recorded in each local authority by local authorities on Flycapture for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	Following the release of the 2006-07 Flycapture statistics on 9 October 2007, this information has been sent to all MPs.
	It is also available to download electronically on DEFRA'S Flycapture website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/flytipping/flycapture-data.htm

Food: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effects of kerbside food waste collections on levels of household composting.

Joan Ruddock: Separate collections of food waste are relatively novel in the UK. In the 19 trials being conducted by WRAP early indications are that public participation in collections is of the order of 60-80 per cent. Of the food waste being put out for disposal around 70 per cent. is being captured by the food waste collection. The remainder is being disposed of in the residual bin. This excludes any food waste that may be home composted. Many of the trials are being conducted in urban areas where the uptake of home composting is low as properties have either very small or no gardens. However, a customer survey in some of the trial areas indicated that between 58 per cent. and 74 per cent. of respondents indicated that the availability of a food waste collection had not changed what they put in their home composting bin.
	WRAP proposes to continue to monitor the food waste collection trials and will be reporting on their findings in due course.
	Some local authorities are trialling the collection of food waste with garden waste collections. The partial evidence available so far suggests that these arrangements are not generally successful in capturing food waste from the residual waste stream, Furthermore, separate research carried out by WRAP in 2007, indicates that the existence of kerbside garden/organic collections has limited impact on levels of home composting by home composting households. The main reasons given are:
	1. They consider home composting to be more environmentally friendly and divert as much via that route as they can, using collection services only for items that they decide are unsuitable for home composting (pernicious weeds, large and woody items etc.)
	2. As they are keen gardeners they want to make as much compost as possible, and will use the collection service only for items that don't readily compost
	3. At certain times of the year their gardens produce an excess of certain waste materials and they will consider using the kerbside service to get rid of this excess material.
	The inference is that food waste collected with garden waste has little overall impact on the amount of material which is home composted.

Nature Conservation: EU Law

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what shadow price per hectare of salt marsh he has used for the purpose of implementation of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

Joan Ruddock: A key mechanism for delivery of this Directive is the flagship agri-environment scheme, environmental stewardship. Shadow prices are not used to determine payment rates for this scheme as they are derived from the income forgone by the landowner in carrying out the prescribed management. The payments for salt marsh options available under the environmental stewardship higher level scheme were, in common with all the other options, calculated in 2004. There are a number of options available ranging from the maintenance of coastal saltmarsh (30/ha) to the creation of inter-tidal/saline habitat on arable land (at 700/ha).

Regeneration: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what funding allocated by his Department for the Castle Point Regeneration Partnership is planned to be spent.

Joan Ruddock: The Castle Point Regeneration Partnership includes various bodies such as the Department for Communities and Local Government, East of England Development Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Essex county council and Castle Point borough council who contribute funding to the project. Neither DEFRA nor Natural England have set aside funds for the Castle Point Regeneration Partnership.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has powers to sanction those local authorities that do not offer waste disposal free of charge to schools and prisons.

Joan Ruddock: The duty on a local authority to collect household waste is contained within section 45(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (ERA). Waste from schools and prisons is classified by schedule 2 of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 (CWR) as household waste. Local authorities have no powers to charge for the disposal of household waste.
	There are no powers in the ERA for DEFRA or the Secretary of State to sanction any authorities that charge for the disposal of household waste.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1373W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, if he will place in the Library a copy of the August letter to local authorities on section 46 powers.

Joan Ruddock: I have arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Anguilla: Politics and Government

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations on the constitutional future of Anguilla.

Kim Howells: At the beginning of 2006, the Governor of Anguilla appointed a Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission to take forward Anguilla's constitutional review process. The Commission reported in August 2006. Following this, a first round of constitutional talks between Anguilla and the UK, scheduled for July 2007, was postponed at the request of the government of Anguilla to allow for greater public consultation and for the people of Anguilla to be better informed about the constitutional options. The most recent public forum was held in April 2008. The Government are awaiting the outcome of these consultations and are available to open constitutional talks when the government of Anguilla are ready.

Belarus: Surveillance

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the  (a) sale of covert surveillance technology by UK companies to the Belarusian security service and  (b) use of such equipment by the Belarusian security service.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 7 May 2008
	The Government are aware of reports of meetings between UK surveillance technology companies and the authorities of Belarus. The Government are not involved in these meetings and therefore has no information about their content.
	All export licence applications for military and dual use goods, including surveillance equipment, are closely examined and assessed on a case by case basis against Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
	Where licensable surveillance equipment is concerned, particular attention is given to Criterion 2 of the Consolidated Criteria - "The respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination". The Government will not issue an export licence for any military or dual use goods where there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.

Cameroon: Politics and Government

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the recent change to the constitution of the Republic of Cameroon altering the limits of presidential terms for the political situation in that country.

Kim Howells: holding answer 7 May 2008
	The amendment to the Cameroonian constitution to remove presidential term limits was passed in the Cameroonian National Assembly on 10 April. The constitution now places no restrictions on the number of terms a president, including the incumbent, may serve. It also accords some immunities to the president for acts committed during their tenure and allows a longer period for the organisation of elections in the case of a presidential vacancy.
	As noted in my answer of 23 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2121W, the Government supported an EU public statement concerning the amendment of the constitution of Cameroon on 27 March. We will continue to work with EU partners. In addition, our high commission in Yaounde has raised the constitutional amendment bilaterally with a number of Cameroonian Ministers and stressed the need for urgent action to deal with the democratic deficits and other reforms that need to be addressed.

China: Falun Gong

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of China on the Falun Gong.

Kim Howells: We remain concerned by reports of the mistreatment of Falun Gong adherents in various provinces of China, particularly those detained in Re-education Through Labour (RTL) camps. We raise our concerns, over individual practitioners and for the need to reform RTL, with the Chinese government at every appropriate opportunity. We did this most recently at the 16th round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 28 to 31 January.

Departmental Domestic Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions he has visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not, as yet, visited the devolved administrations in his official capacity.

East Africa: Peace Negotiations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of convening a regional conference on East Africa and related countries to include Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda and Kenya to discuss common objectives towards peace in that region; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government will continue to work closely with countries in East Africa on regional as well as other issues. We have no plans to convene a conference, of all these countries, to discuss peace across the whole region. These countries, along with Djibouti, are the constituent members of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). IGAD was created in 1996 as an intergovernmental body for development in the East and Horn of Africa. The African Union has also identified IGAD as one of Africa's sub regional intergovernmental organisations that can help contribute to peace and security in Africa. The Government actively support IGAD's work to promote peace and stability across the region.

Egypt: Torture

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Egypt on the use of torture.

Kim Howells: The Government are concerned about the use of torture by Egyptian authorities and the wider human rights situation in Egypt. I raised human rights issues directly with the visiting Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament on 21 January 2008.
	In addition, on 11 March, officials from our embassy in Cairo met with the Egyptian Deputy Minister for Human Rights to express our concerns with Egyptian conduct across a range of human rights areas.
	We also look forward to having an active discussion with Egypt on these issues at the forthcoming EU-Egypt political sub-committee, established under the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.

Gaza: Fuels

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Israel on fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development issued a joint statement on 25 April 2008 expressing concern that fuel shortages in Gaza meant the UN Relief and Works Agency was unable to continue much of its relief work. This left hundreds of thousands of people in need of food, water and medical supplies. A steady supply of fuel is essential for the provision of these basic services. We have urged the government of Israel to ensure that, in line with its own public commitments, its actions do not result in humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This message was reiterated in a series of high-level meetings held in London on 2 May, involving Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether British personnel taken hostage in Iraq have passed into the custody of Iran's Revolutionary Guard; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have received no substantive evidence of Iranian involvement in the case of the British nationals taken hostage in Iraq, though we have seen speculative media reports. It is our policy not to discuss the operational details of the Government's response or analysis, where we judge that doing so would not be in the interests of the hostages.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Pakistan government Riaz Marsh and Muhammed Shafiq case in the Lahore Court.

Kim Howells: We have made no representations to the Lahore Court on behalf of Mr. Muhammed Shafiq, who is no longer detained in Faisalbad jail.
	We have also made no representations to the Lahore Court on behalf of Mr. Riaz Maish, who is unknown to Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials.

Russia: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Russia on the observance of civil liberties and human rights.

Jim Murphy: Sir Peter Ricketts, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Permanent Under-Secretary, raised rule of law issues with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Titov during his visit to Moscow on 22 to 24 April.
	The UK holds annual bilateral human rights discussions with Russia. These were last held in January 2007 and the next meeting is planned for later this year. We also raise our concerns through the EU/Russia human rights consultations, which were last held on 17 April.

Russia: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the observance of human rights and levels of political freedom in Russia.

Jim Murphy: We have a mature and frank relationship with Russia and do not shy away from making our concerns known about human rights and democracy. We want to see democracy in Russia deliver political pluralism and all its associated freedoms. We believe that an open and democratic Russia will consolidate Russia as a stable and reliable international partner for the global community.
	During the parliamentary election in December 2006 and the presidential elections in March 2007, the UK, along with the EU and international observers raised concerns as to the degree of democracy exhibited throughout the election periods. Of particular concern were the unacceptable conditions Russia placed on international observers, limits to restrict the field of candidates and the lack of equal media access for opposition candidates.
	According to recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, both the non-governmental organisation law and the law on extremist behaviour have been used to target and restrict certain individuals and non-governmental organisations. Media freedom and the situation facing human rights defenders are recurrent themes during both the bilateral and EU/Russia human rights dialogues. As a result, we welcome President Medvedev's focus on the need to strengthen the rule of law in Russia.

Sudan: Census

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the progress of Sudan's fifth census which began on 22 April; and what help he is offering to ensure its successful completion.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development discussed progress on the census in their meeting on 28 April with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor. Officials from both the Government of National Unity and the Government of South Sudan have reported that the census is going well, though there have been some logistical difficulties and some communities have not co-operated with enumerators. Movements in Darfur have spoken out against the census, although initial reports suggest that enumeration has taken place in many areas of Darfur. At UK suggestion, language in support of the census and all parties' acceptance of the results was included in UN Security Council Resolution 1812 of 30 April for renewal of the UN Mission in Sudan mandate.

Tibet: Human Rights

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of China to provide access for human rights organisations to monitor the human rights situation in Tibet.

Kim Howells: We believe that the Chinese government should lift restrictions on access to the region which would aid an independent assessment of the situation. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the issue of access to Tibet in his telephone call to Chinese Premier Wen on 19 March. We continue to encourage China to issue an open invitation to all UN Special Rapporteurs to visit China, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Treaty of Lisbon

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU institutions on the process of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, including in member states where the ratification process is by referendum; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with EU institutions on a variety of issues, including the Lisbon treaty. It is up to all 27 member states to ratify the Lisbon treaty in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
	So far, 13 countries have ratified the Lisbon treaty.
	Only one member state (the Republic of Ireland) out of 27 member states is planning to hold a referendum. This will take place on 12 June 2008.

Treaty of Lisbon

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Irish government on the process of ratification of the Lisbon treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have regular contact with our Irish counterparts on the full range of European issues, including the Lisbon treaty.

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many residential accommodation places are being provided by ClearSprings for  (a) persons on bail and  (b) offenders released early from jail in 2008-09; and how many such places they will provide in each of the next three years;
	(2)  what steps ClearSprings is required to take to consult local authorities before providing housing for  (a) persons on bail and  (b) offenders released early from jail; and how many complaints against ClearSprings for not consulting he has received;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to ensure that correct procedures are followed by ClearSprings to  (a) inform and  (b) consult local authorities before sourcing residential accommodation for housing (i) persons on bail and (ii) offenders released early from jail;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 144, on what evidence he stated that Basildon council did not veto proposals by ClearSprings to purchase properties in Basildon to provide accommodation for offenders released early from prison.

David Hanson: ClearSprings have to date been asked by NOMS to provide 160 properties for those bailed by the courts or released from prison on home detention curfew. The Regional Offender Managers and Directors of Offender Management keep the requirement under review and will seek further provision and adjustments to the geographical spread as demand requires.
	ClearSprings are required to consult the police, probation and local authorities about addresses under consideration. They give an opportunity for any concerns to be registered. If there are objections these are discussed with the Regional Offender Manager/Director of Offender Management who will make the final decision on whether to proceed with an address.
	There have been a small number of complaints from or on behalf local authorities about lack of consultation, or delay in consultation. Local authorities will not be consulted until specific addresses are under consideration.
	An audit of ClearSprings' past consultation was conducted during April and the report is expected shortly.
	We were wrongly advised by ClearSprings that Basildon district council had not responded to ClearSprings' approach to them about potential addresses for the service.

National Insurance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of national insurance number registrations were held by  (a) EU and  (b) non-EU nationals in each year since 1987.

Stephen Timms: Information on the stock of NINOs held in a given year is not available. The available information on the flow of NINOs registered each year is in the following tables.
	
		
			  NINO registrations to adult EU nationals (excluding UK) 
			  Year of registration  NINO registrations  As percentage of all registrations to adult foreign nationals 
			 2002-03 98,610 28 
			 2003-04 113,570 31 
			 2004-05 200,460 46 
			 2005-06 374,320 57 
			 2006-07 424,910 60 
		
	
	
		
			  NINO registrat ions to adult non-EU n ationals 
			  Year of registration  NINO registrations  As percentage of all registrations to adult foreign nationals 
			 2002-03 249,800 72 
			 2003-04 256,380 69 
			 2004-05 238,670 54 
			 2005-06 287,550 43 
			 2006-07 288,090 40 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. NIRS does not hold complete data on NINO registrations by nationality prior to 2002 so information is only provided from 2002-03 onwards. 3. Years referred to are from 6 April to 5 April. 4. Figures exclude a small number of cases where nationality is unknown. 5. Data is not held in a format which allows us to extract a figure of NINO registration to adult UK nationals. 6. When presenting an EU time series, if a country moved into the EU during the time series, that country has been included in the EU for the whole of the time series, to facilitate comparisons over time. 7. The data we hold on national insurance number registrations for overseas nationals is only available annually. 8. The figures do not include any NINOs that may have been issued to young foreign nationals under the juvenile registration process.  Source: 100 per cent. extract from National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) at 31 May 2007

National Insurance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were issued in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available prior to 2003-04. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			   NINO Registrations 
			 2003-04 1,198,500 
			 2004-05 1,290,500 
			 2005-06 1,449,600 
			 2006-07 1,539,000 
			  Notes: 1. Source data is Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs National Insurance Recording System (NIRS 2) Management Information. 2. Reporting period is 1 April to 31 March. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 4. Figures include all adult national insurance number registrations and all Juvenile Registrations on HMRC's NIRS 2 system.

National Insurance: Foreign Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were  (a) allocated and  (b) refused in respect of non-EU foreign workers in each quarter since 2004; and if he will break down these figures by (i) nationality and (ii) UK region.

Stephen Timms: Information is not collated on the number of applications for national insurance numbers refused to non-EU nationals.
	The nationality breakdown of those non-EU nationals issued with national insurance numbers in 2005-06 and 2006-07 is published in the detailed tables of the "National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK" reports on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/registration_tables.xls
	and
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/registration_tables2007.xls
	The top 10 nationalities (excluding UK nationals) with the most adult national insurance number registrations for the four years 2003-04 to 2006-07 are published in Table three on page 16 of the report "National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK (previously Migrant Workers Statistics) 2007: Full Report" on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/niall_report.pdf
	A full nationality breakdown for 2004-05 and earlier years is not available. Figures for the number of national insurance numbers issued to adult non EU nationals in 2003-04 and 2004-05 were provided in [PQ 162349] on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 576-77W.
	Data by Government Office Region is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  NINO registrations to adult non-EU nationals by Government Office Region 
			   Year of registration 
			  Government Office Region  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Scotland 13,790 16,450 
			 North East 5,940 6,430 
			 North West 18,710 18,670 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 14,530 15,260 
			 Wales 5,850 5,930 
			 West Midlands 17,490 18,110 
			 East Midlands 12,720 11,990 
			 East of England 18,500 17,650 
			 South East 33,190 33,270 
			 London 129,070 125,800 
			 South West 11,670 12,740 
			 Northern Ireland 3,090 2,660 
			 Overseas Residents 2,950 3,130 
			 Total 287,500 288,090 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures exclude cases where nationality is unknown. 3. In order to produce a consistent time series, nationality is classified as EU or non-EU according to the country's status in May 2007. 4. Government Office Region counts are based on the most recently recorded address of the NINO recipient. 5. Columns may not sum to totals because of rounding. 6. Quarterly data is not available. Data relates to tax years 6 April to 5 April.  Source: 100 per cent extract from National Insurance Recording System at 14 May 2007 
		
	
	A regional breakdown for 2004-05 and earlier years is not available.

National Insurance: Immigrants

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when his Department began to check the national insurance numbers and the national insurance status of the illegal workers in the security industry identified in the oral statement of 13 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 531-3, on the security industry authority, made by the Home Secretary;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 447W, on immigrants: national insurance, when he expects the information on national insurance numbers to be available; and what is the timescale for the exercise being conducted on determining the right to work status of EEA nationals.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 18 March 2008
	The Security Industry Authority's (SIA's) immediate priority was to complete the revocations of the licences of those who had no right to work. Only once this process was completed could the appropriate follow up action be commissioned. In accordance with this procedure, on the 7 March 2008, the SIA provided the DWP with a list of the individuals who have had their licences revoked.
	This data was shared with the DWP by the SIA as soon as it was in a position to do so, taking account of the need to ensure that only the relevant information was passed to DWP. The checking process is now under way and is expected to be completed by the end of May.